ANIMALS MOVE, like most of my picture books, was written with story time in mind. I can’t help it, I’m always thinking about the kinds of books I would want to use in a program – interactive, energetic, inclusive titles that support literacy while also being heaps of fun. I’m a big believer in the importance of movement, so it should come as no surprise that many of my stories, including ANIMALS MOVE, are designed to harness the energy of early childhood and get little ones learning through movement.
To celebrate the upcoming release of ANIMALS MOVE on March 29, I’ve put together a little list of books that would pair perfectly with ANIMALS MOVE in an energetic animal-themed story time. Make sure to bring a bottle of water to your program, and maybe pour yourself a cup of coffee beforehand, because this story time is definitely going to be a workout!
FROM HEAD TO TOE – Can you kick like a donkey, bend your neck like a giraffe, or thump your chest like a gorilla? Get kids up and moving with this beloved classic that will have them giggling as they act out all sorts of animal actions. Story time pro tip – depending on the size of my group and/or the size of my space, I sometimes skip over the donkey kicking page. Nothing will ruin the momentum of your program quite like a wee one getting an accidental foot in the face!
WILD ONE – Yes, it’s my own book, but hear me out – this was my original story time creation, and I still think it’s a real winner, especially with wiggly, mixed-age audiences. Following an energetic wild one through her busy day, kids will be swimming like a guppy and bounding like a puppy before gulping like a whale and snuggling like a bear. It would actually work well as the last read aloud in a story time, as it winds down nicely to a quite, snuggly finish, perfect for rounding out a program before saying goodbye.
IF YOU’RE HOPPY – Hop like a bunny! Jump like a frog! Bark like a dog! Flap like a bird! And sing, sing, sing! Heaps of fun for story time. Everyone knows I do love a singable picture book, especially as the last book in a program.
JUMP! – Many different animals can jump, but they all have their own unique way of doing so. This is a delightful, bouncy romp translated from the original Japanese, with gorgeous illustrations. Just that cover alone makes me smile.
IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT! – We round out our exuberant program with an old favourite from Jane Cabrera – this fun animal-themed take on the classic children’s song is a delight, and is sure to get your audience up and moving along with the song as they act out all sorts of fun animal actions. Cabrera’s books have long been story time staples, and they are always a safe bet for just about any story time setting.
Now books alone do not a story time make, so check back next week, when I’ll be sharing some songs and rhymes that will help round out your bouncy, boisterous animal-themed story time!
If you ever use ANIMALS MOVE in a story time, and I do hope someone will, I would absolutely love to hear about it! Leave me a comment, send me an email or tag me on Instagram, and let me know how it goes!
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